“What did you did this time, Jill?” My mother removed her eyes on her monitor screen and eyed me intently.
I raised my hands in annoyance and sat down on the couch inside her luxurious office. My mother like Von never failed me to feel extra worthless. Crossing my arms and legs simultaneously, I studied the interior of her office. From the vantage of a self-proclaimed fashion enthusiast and a professional model, this place looks entirely black and white except for a few colorful art pieces and sculptures situated in every conspicuous parts of the extremely large space.
Never bad, I thought as I picture myself inside this similar vibe of office days from now.
“Mom, I don’t like your office. It’s boring, colorless, and the vibe here is eerie. You will not stop me from getting myself a fabulous interior designer who will make every corner of my future office as flashy and as divine as me. Also, I need my own secretary and I want you to personally train me. I can’t rel
I should not have accepted my mom’s test. I should have not gone to her to discuss about my willingness to be her employee just to help Von on his new project. If I had not done such a drastic move, then I should have been in the safety of my fluffy covers in my bed snoring and enjoying my beauty sleep.By this time, I should have been in the comfort of the dreamland where I am happily living my life with Von.That’s what’s running in my head as I climb my way up to the 30th floor. The elevator stopped at 20th so I had to manually run through the arduous steps to get to mom’s office. My cute pink long-sleeve is already soaked with my sweat and I don’t have to look at my face to know that my make-up is all over my face. I blamed myself for not opting to use the water-proof make-up. I stink which has never happened to me for the last few months and I hated every second of it. I wanted to turn my back, rush back inside the car but my go
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked while fuming in anger.I hurriedly stood up not minding if my hair is all over my face, just to face the devil incarnate who gave me a mocking smile.“What a pleasant words coming from you, Jill. Didn’t you miss me? Well, I miss you so much, babe.” He stressed the last word as if to emphasize something.My face grimaced in disgust at the sight of the man who I have considered to be my first love. Only when I met Von did I realize that what I felt for this cheating piece of scumbag is very shallow.“Who gave you an idea that I like to see you again? After what you have done to me? After you slept with my assistant and made a fool out of me, you still have the gall to let me see your face again? How could you still keep a straight face after what you have done, you chauvinistic jerk!”My nostrils flared and I can feel my head growing big. Pure bloodshot anger
The three went out of the door. Von on the other hand, looks at me and nod his head. I smiled back and waved my hand.“Jill honey?” My mother called me.I turned my attention to her. She obviously saw us. Well, there is no point of denying when she already knows it. And I can’t read any objection on her face. Maybe she knows that I’m in the right hands.Well Von, the stars and the planets aligned for the both of us. The only missing link is your love.“Yeah?”“Would you be so kind to check for my appointments for later?”I raised my brow. “Why? You have Selena as your secretary. Why do I have to do her job? And why do you have a desk here for me prepared inside your office? I thought you will give me my own place here?”“Selena is not my secretary anymore. At least not for the time being. Just this morning, I have given her a whole month of vacation. You will be replacing her. The files are in your computer already. Al
“So? How did it go?”I groaned in the phone while talking to Laurie and enjoying my bubble bath in the confines of my place. I felt like my neck and back are breaking for being in front of the computer for the whole day. Thinking about repeating it for another day tomorrow makes my insides go wild in rebellion.“Please, don’t ask. It was obviously hell, Laurie. I did stuff you won’t want to know. I hate it there as much as I hate mom for pulling a stunt on me.”She laughed on the line and burped. I don’t have to keep guessing what this woman is doing. I’m sure she is eating again. What will happen next worries me. Laurie will obviously gag herself again to force the food out of her stomach. I have been telling her to stop this unhealthy practice of hers and consult a doctor but she won’t heed me.I sighed. We’re really meant to be friends.“You’re doing it again. How many times do I need to tell you about your habit? Stop it, already.”“Stop it
“What’s up, J. Something bothering you again? You only call me when you’re in trouble. What is it this time?”I smiled when I heard Cathy’s voice over the phone. I decided to call her so that she could enlighten me with what’s eating me up now.“Hi, C. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard your voice. I missed you. Why didn’t you inform me that you accepted mom’s offer to send you to Europe? I hate you.”Cathy laughed in the line. I heard a clanking of glasses.“We both know you didn’t call me alone for that. It’s not that hard for me to read you. Come on, we have been together for all the years of our lives. Is it about Von again?”I let out a sigh. Cathy never failed to make feel assured and protected. She has this unique aura all over her that makes you trust her. Cathy has been like that for me for the longest time. We practically grew up together. If only my aunt will let her, she could have moved to our house. Aside from Laurie, she has been
I arrived at Sandy’s place at exactly five in the morning. The maid who opened the door for me gave me a malicious smile while giving a look on my thin lingerie underneath my untied robe.“Where’s Von?” I asked hurriedly not minding her stares.“Jill, come up here.”I looked up to see Von from the top of the stairs in the second floor. I didn’t think twice before running towards him.“W-what happened?” I asked him while catching my breath.Von sighed and raked his fingers over his hair in a frustrated way.“It’s Sandy. I don’t know what exactly happened but she called me this morning to ask for my help. I immediately came here but when she saw me, she began to scream and started shaking all over. I tried to embraced her but she won’t let me. It’s been an hour since she locked herself up in the room.”“Why did you call me? You should have called for her mother or any member of her family.”Von stared right through me, enough for m
“Smile, my dear. You look stunning in your pantsuit. It suits you.”I rolled my eyes at my mother and adjusted the frames of my eyeglasses. I felt so uncomfortable with my too conservative clothes and the stares people in the convention throw at me.Of course I know why. They are as shocked as myself when mom pulled me out of my tedious answering of her endless calls to accompany her to a formal event.I felt so out of place with my clothes in the sea of dresses and coats. I did not come here to be one of the dignitaries but as a mere employee.“Why didn’t you give me a heads up about this, mom? Look at them checking me out. It’s so embarrassing!”My mother laughed.“That doesn’t change the fact that you are still my daughter and the future of our empire. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” she assured me.“I know that but you could have at least informed me beforehand. I don’t even have my eye contacts in me and you of all peopl
“Hi, Ms. Jill Buenaventura. Fancy meeting you here. I get that you don’t remember me given that look in your face. I’m Penelope Ciro. We met five years ago in London. Remember that fashion show?”I crooked one brow and tried to remember her name and the event she’s talking about. Penelope… A flash of recognition dawned on me when I repeated her name in my head. My face hardened at the memory of a woman holding a placard outside the hotel where a fashion show I just attended was taking place. She is shouting expletive words on my face and then next thing I knew; she threw a rotten egg on my face.The next day's morning paper contained my picture who looks like I just ran over a dozen of eggs. Beside that column is a mugshot of the woman where her name is written in a nice bold black font.“Ah, I remember your bloated face outside that building that night. Well, you look so good with that mismatched plaid jacket and a neon cropped top.”Penelope smi
He smiled which melt my heart."I know you have heard me offer it to you countless of times. Only now did I realize what an asshole I was for doing it but Jill, this asshole will shamelessly asked you now if you could spend your life with him for the rest of the days?"He got down on his knee and offered me the ring on his necklace. "Will you be my other half for the rest of our eternity, Jill?"I choked on my tears. I don't know why but something is telling me to give in, that this is the time I was hoping and praying for.Without further ado, I nodded and offered my hand to him. His tears fell which made the whole proposal more emotional than ever."Thank you, Jill. You will not regret it. I promise you."With shaking hands, he put on the ring to my equally shaking finger. We both looked at it with sigh and contentment in heart."Finally, you are mine again."He closed our gap and kissed me sweetly. He didn't try to open my m
The coast is as white as snow and the water is crystal-clear like it's waving at me to take a dip. The scenery is very beautiful. Everything is sparkling. There were just a few people around since the resort is a very exclusive one. I met the owner earlier who is a friend of Trevor.The father and son tandem were all long gone from our beach room and were enjoying swimming at the waters. I can see them from the terrace of the house. Trevor was teaching Zeus how to swim. I smiled when he put Zeus into his shoulders and swam.This is the greatest sight to behold. Seeing these two guys having the best time in their lives, just simply having fun.It's just sad how I can't be with them now. Earlier, they convinced me to swim but I refused because I'm not really feeling well. My head is throbbing with pain. I took a pill already so the pain is subsiding. I didn't tell them about it because I don't want to spoil the fun.
Trevor did stand true to his words. He proved to me that he is worthy enough to give my trust back to. Day by day, he showed to us his true colors. He was there in our life every step of the way especially for Zeus.I also saw the video clip he gave me. True enough, it was Sandy who initiated the kiss, not him. I was just too angry that time that I failed to believe his reason.Every day, he is the first person I would see first in the morning because he drives from his home to mine every dawn to drive me to the office afterwards. Sometimes, he cooks breakfast for the three of us whenever he arrived too early in the morning.And this morning is one of the many days that I woke up to the aroma of his cooking.“Good morning,” I greeted him when I was at the entrance of the kitchen. Trevor is in front of the stove, mixing whatever he’s cooking in the pan from which the mouth-watering fragrance is coming from.He looked up to me and smiled
I barely had any sleep during the remaining hours of the dawn so I just rose from the bed to start my day early. My mind was still left to Trevor. Why can’t he just drop it all so we can each live a peaceful life? Everything would be easier from then on.In the end, I still chose to understand him because I know the feelings. I was once in his shoes back then. I know how hard for someone to be yours. If there's anyone in the world who can truly understand him then it will be me. Actually, I have been thinking and trying to understand him and now, it’s all gradually sinking it to me.I was just sitting on the porch having my coffee while waiting for Zeus to wake up when the man in my mind appeared in the doorway carrying a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a box of chocolates in the other. He looked so fresh and handsome in his casual shirts and pants as if he had not cried and begged to me a few hours ago. He walked to me and kissed my head like nothing happened a
I can’t sleep the whole night. I was just tossing around my bed staring at the wall clock. The rain is still very hard outside. I also lost count about how many times I have peeked through the curtains to check if Trevor’s car is still outside. He is still there and he won’t stop calling me so I have to block his number and tried to go to sleep but the voice in my head won't stop bothering me.At two am, I can’t really stop myself. I picked up an umbrella and went outside. I braced myself for the gustiness of the wind and the heavy pouring of the rain butJbut I braved through it. I opened the gate and I saw Trevor emerged from his car and met me halfway.“Why did you go out? Go back to sleep. I’ll just be here. We will talk tomorrow,” he said when he stood inches from me soaking in rain. Exhaustion and sadness are what characterize him now.He didn't touch me. He stepped back and put his hands on his pockets not minding the strong pouring of r
"I shouldn't have put the idea in your head. That was so stupid of me. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I should have thought about your history with the man.""No, Cathy. Don't blame yourself. It was all on me. I made my own decision. I was an adult who is very capable of deciding on her own."She sighed and caressed her growing tummy. Sadness is all over her pretty face."I really thought that everything will be going as what I wanted. I am secretly hoping that you guys will make up and then get married before this year ends. Jill, I don't want to leave you like this. If I could just stay here forever for you, I will gladly do so.""Cathy, you have a life you need to live, too. If you are only doing this because you don't want to leave me alone then forget about it. I have Zeus. He's all I need. I'm a grown ass adult who runs a multi-billion business. This is just a passing moment for me. I have surpa
I was brimming with so much hope in my heart when I came here. I was so ready to tell him that maybe we can all start over again. I will tell him that as I have thought it all through, I realized that I wanted to give him a second shot, that I wanted to give our son a complete family.But all that has been shattered in an instant when I saw him kissing not just any other girl but Sandy, the woman whom I have been always insecure and wary about.The hope I am feeling earlier went out of the window instantly upon witnessing this heartbreaking scene. I can feel my heart breaking and being blown into pieces. It's like all my energy has been sucked out from my body and I cannot even lift a finger to them.I took a step back and gasped. The two heard me and looked at my direction quickly. Trevor's face was remarkable. His mouth just opened wide and his face is so pale I could paint something on it. There was a considerable fear in his eye
“Zeus, do you really want your daddy to live here in the house?”“Of course, mommy. I want daddy here with us.”My son took a car out of his piles of toys we bought yesterday courtesy of Trevor. That guy even rented the whole space so Zeus could have all the toys for himself.“But baby, this house will be smaller for us now. You won’t have the whole place for yourself. Do you like that? Are you okay with that?”He nodded and broke the leg off the toy.“It’s okay for me, momma. I want dadda here.”“But dadda is so noisy. He will wake you up all night.”“No, momma. Dadda is not noisy.”“Really?” I put him on my lap and pinched his cheeks. “But daddy will take some of your toys. You okay with that? Hmm?”&nb
“Cathy, what do you think?”“I think it’s perfectly fine. It’s about time you stop pretending and give your heart a break from all the restraining that you do. I don’t see anything wrong with being happy, Jill.”I wiped off the sweat from my head using my wrist and continued working out.“What if it’s just another trap, Cathy? I can’t risk my heart for the second time around, Cathy. I will lose my mind.”Cathy got up from her stretching routines to drink water from the bottled water on the floor of my personal gym.“Everything is a risk, Jill. Every decision we make is a risk. On my side, you know how I was protective of you. if I have sensed any tiny irregularity with his intention to you, then I will be the very first person who will be on his way. But I can feel and see that he is very sincere of you Jill even before knowing about Zeus. We can’t say that he just did it for Zeus. He loves you, Jill. You know in yourself that it’s true this time.